Buoyant garment.



l. S. STOCKMAN.

BUOYANT GARMENT.

APPLICATION mco APR.23. m1.

Patented May 21,1918.

masses:

fid- Aiforney JAMES SMITH STOCKMAN, OF SOUTH SHIELDS, ENGLAND.

BUOYANT GARMENT.

Application filed April 23, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs SMITH STOCK- MAN, a subject of the King of Englandpresiding at South Shields, in the county of Durham, England, have invented a Buoyant Garment, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to buoyant garments of the kind comprising a coat or waisted or sleeveless jacket provided with independent flexible air-tight bags or chambers extending over the chest or over the chest and back, each having a valve flexible tube whereby it can be inflated so as to render the garment, on emergency, sufiiciently buoyant to support a person in Water. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved garment of this type which has the added advantage that it can be safely used even though one of the air bags or chambers should happen not to be airtight or to be otherwise unusable.

A buoyant garment in accordance with this invention is of the type above referred to and is characterized in that the waistcoat is provided with two independent flexible airtight chambers or bags each of subso disposedj v that, when inflated, the bags fit closely one; under each arm of the wearer and partially stantially crescent-shape and encircle the arm but not extending substantially over either the chest or back. the center of buoyancy being such that the wearer,

* bag around the neck of the wearer by thrusting the head through the adjacent arm hole is supported in an inclined position with his face and chest above the water, or. if either bag happens not to be air-tight. the other can be secured under the chin so as to partially encircle the wearers neck. means being provided for securing either bag in position around the neck so as to support the head of the wearer above the water.

The drawing illustrates a garment embodying my invention. the garment being partly folded for convenience of illustration.

Referring to the drawing, the garment therein illustrated consists of an external expanding waist-coat or sleeveless jacket having arm holes a a. Disposed at each side beneath the arm holes a a is a flexible chamber or bag I; which is secured between the cloth of the jacket and the inner lining thereof by attaching the small rin c at the ends of the bags by sewing or 0t erwlse II conveniently to the cloth. The flexible bags Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Serial No. 164,020.

Z may be of rubber inclosed in casings of cloth or fabric, and are approximately crescent-shaped as shown so that, when inflated,

they partially embrace the arms but do not extend substantially over either the chest or back of the wearer. Each bag is provided with a flexible pipe (5 having a non-return valve 6 or a valve which can be readily closed by the wearer of the jacket, said pipes forming the means whereby the bags can be inflated. Loops (not shown) may be provided on the inside-of the jacket at each side to receive said pipes. The jacket is fastened by buttons f and button holes g down the center of the front, and may be provided with pockets h at both sides of the front which may be used for holding a flask of brandy or other restorative, or a watertight case or box of compressed food or the like.

In use, the improved garment is intended to be worn in place of the usual waist-coat,

the flexible bags 5 bein normally deflated.

When occasion arises, t e two flexible bags can be easily and quickly inflated by the wearer blowing into the pipes d attached thereto. and, when inflated, the bags render the jacket sufliciently buoyant to support the wearer in the water. The plaits j allow the jacket to expand when the bags 5 W are inflated. If it should accidentally ha pen that one of the bags 6 is not air-tig t owing to puncture or other cause the jacket can be removed and replaced with the other of the jacket, means such as the tapes 7: or an e astic or adjustable band or the like being provided for each arm hole for securing the jacket around the neck. The inflatable bags 6 are of such capacity that one alone will be sufficient to keep a persons head above water.

In some cases the jacket may be provided with an additional inflatable flexible bag or chamber at the front or at the back, or both, which additional bag or bags will be independent of the bags I) under the arms and of each other. When a front bag is provided, the jacket may be adapted to, fasten down the side, and, if desired, a strap or belt may be provided which can be passed between the legs and fastened at the front and back so as to keep the jacket close against the body of the wearer when in the water.

firily described my said invention whrit I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :e

A buoyant garment of the character des- 5 ignated, comprising a sleeveless jacket, crescent shaped inflatable bags positioned with Mr ;concarities under the arm pits thereof,

and between the face cloth and the lining thereof, means for inflating said bags, and

10 plaitsin the sides and back portions of the garment which allow the latter to expand when the be gs are inflated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES SMITH STOOKMAN.

Witnesses NEGCH, A. MITOHIN son.

(topics of this patent may be obtained f0; five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, .D. 0." 

